Variable Rate Media Playback Methods for Electronic Devices with Touch Interfaces

1. A method, comprising: at an electronic device with a touch interface and a media player: while a media file is playing in the media player: detecting a first user gesture on the touch interface, wherein the first user gesture is associated with a request to vary scan rate through the media file; in response to the first user gesture, changing playback speed of the media file by a first scan rate factor from a first playback speed to a second playback speed; after detecting the first gesture, detecting a pause without cessation in user contact with the touch interface; maintaining the second playback speed during the pause; after detecting the pause, detecting a second user gesture on the touch interface, wherein the second user gesture includes a multi-finger swipe motion, executed after the pause without cessation in user contact with the touch interface throughout the first gesture, the second gesture, and the pause, wherein the second user gesture is also associated with a request to vary scan rate through the media file; and in response to the second user gesture, changing playback speed of the media file by an additional second scan rate factor to a third playback speed, distinct from the first playback speed and the second playback speed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second scan rate factors are determined by length and/or speed and/or time duration of the first and second user gestures, respectively.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: detecting cessation of user contact with the touch interface; and in response to the cessation, returning the playback speed of the media file to the first playback speed.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: detecting cessation of user contact with the touch interface; and maintaining the playback speed of the media at a first playback speed existing just prior to the cessation.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising: detecting a third user gesture on the touch interface, wherein the third user gesture is associated with a request to cancel accelerated playback of the media file; and in response to the third user gesture, returning the playback speed of the media file to the first playback speed.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user gesture comprises a multi-finger swipe motion.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the first user gesture occurs when the media file is playing at a conventional playback speed, the first scan rate factor is two times the conventional playback speed, and the second scan rate factor is two times the playback speed of the media file just prior to occurrence of the second user gesture.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first scan rate factor is a fixed multiple of the playback speed of the media file just prior to occurrence of the first user gesture and the second scan rate factor is a fixed multiple of the playback speed of the media file just prior to occurrence of the second user gesture.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second user gestures are two fingered swipes, both of the swipes having respective swipe trajectories that are approximately aligned with a predetermined orientation on the touchpad.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: detecting a first direction of the first user gesture and a second direction of the second user gesture with reference to the predetermined orientation, and when the first and second user gestures are in substantially opposite directions with reference to the predetermined orientation, reversing direction of playback of the media file in response to the second gesture.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: detecting a first direction of the first user gesture and a second direction of the second user gesture with reference to the predetermined orientation, and when the first and second user gestures are in substantially opposite directions with reference to the predetermined orientation, slowing playback speed in its current direction.

12. The method of the claim 9 , wherein, when the first and second user gestures are in a different direction along the predetermined orientation, the second predetermined rate change comprises changing the playback speed to the speed of playback for the media file prior to implementation of the first rate change.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch interface and a media player, cause the device to: while a media file is playing in the media player: detect a first user gesture on the touch interface, wherein the first user gesture is associated with a request to vary scan rate through the media file; in response to the first user gesture, change playback speed of the media file by a first scan rate factor from a first playback speed to a second playback speed; after detecting the first gesture, detecting a pause without cessation in user contact with the touch interface; maintaining the second playback speed during the pause; after detecting the pause, detect a second user gesture on the touch interface, wherein the second user gesture includes a multi-finger swipe motion executed after the pause without cessation in user contact with the touch interface throughout the first gesture, the second gesture, and the pause, wherein the second user gesture is also associated with a request to vary scan rate through the media file; and in response to the second user gesture, change playback speed of the media file by an additional second scan rate factor to a third playback speed, distinct from the first playback speed and the second playback speed.

14. An electronic device, comprising: a touch interface; a media player; and a contact processing module that detects and processes user inputs on the touch interface, wherein the electronic device, in conjunction with the contact processing module, is configured to: while a media file is playing in the media player: detect a first user gesture on the touch interface, wherein the first user gesture is associated with a request to vary scan rate through the media file; in response to the first user gesture, change playback speed of the media file in the media player by a first scan rate factor from a first playback speed to a second playback speed; after detecting the first gesture, detect a pause without cessation in user contact with the touch interface; maintain the second playback speed during the pause; after detecting the pause, detect a second user gesture on the touch interface, wherein the second user gesture includes a multi-finger swipe motion executed after the pause without cessation in user contact with the touch interface throughout the first gesture, the second gesture, and the pause, wherein the second user gesture is also associated with a request to vary scan rate through the media file in the media player; and in response to the second user gesture, change playback speed of the media file by an additional second scan rate factor in the media player to a third playback speed, distinct from the first playback speed and the second playback speed.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the first and second scan rate factors are determined by length and/or speed and/or time duration of the first and second user gestures, respectively.

16. The device of claim 14 , including instructions for: detecting cessation of user contact with the touch interface; and in response to the cessation, returning the playback speed of the media file to the first playback speed.

17. The device of claim 14 , including instructions for: detecting cessation of user contact with the touch interface; and maintaining the playback speed of the media at a playback speed existing just prior to the cessation.

18. The device of claim 14 , including instructions for: detecting a third user gesture on the touch interface, wherein the third user gesture is associated with a request to cancel accelerated playback of the media file; and in response to the third user gesture, returning the playback speed of the media file to the first playback speed.

19. The device of claim 14 , wherein the first user gesture comprises a multi-finger swipe motion.

20. The device of claim 14 , wherein, when the first user gesture occurs when the media file is playing at a conventional playback speed, the first scan rate factor is two times the conventional playback speed, and the second scan rate factor is two times the playback speed of the media file just prior to occurrence of the second user gesture.

21. The device of claim 14 , wherein the first scan rate factor is a fixed multiple of the playback speed of the media file just prior to occurrence of the first user gesture and the second scan rate factor is a fixed multiple of the playback speed of the media file just prior to occurrence of the second user gesture.

22. The device of claim 14 , wherein the first and second user gestures are two fingered swipes, both of the swipes having respective swipe trajectories that are approximately aligned with a predetermined orientation on the touchpad.

23. The device of claim 14 , including instructions for: detecting a first direction of the first user gesture and a second direction of the second user gesture with reference to the predetermined orientation, and when the first and second user gestures are in substantially opposite directions with reference to the predetermined orientation, reversing direction of playback of the media file in response to the second gesture.

24. The device of claim 14 , including instructions for: detecting a first direction of the first user gesture and a second direction of the second user gesture with reference to the predetermined orientation, and when the first and second user gestures are in substantially opposite directions with reference to the predetermined orientation, slowing playback speed in its current direction.

25. The device of claim 14 , wherein, when the first and second user gestures are in a different direction along the predetermined orientation, the second predetermined rate change comprises changing the playback speed to the speed of playback for the media file prior to implementation of the first rate change.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first and second scan rate factors are determined by length and/or speed and/or time duration of the first and second user gestures, respectively.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , including instructions which cause the device to: detect cessation of user contact with the touch interface; and in response to the cessation, return the playback speed of the media file to the first playback speed.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , including instructions which cause the device to: detect cessation of user contact with the touch interface; and maintain the playback speed of the media at a playback speed existing just prior to the cessation.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , including instructions which cause the device to: detect a third user gesture on the touch interface, wherein the third user gesture is associated with a request to cancel accelerated playback of the media file; and in response to the third user gesture, return the playback speed of the media file to the first playback speed.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first user gesture comprises a multi-finger swipe motion.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein, when the first user gesture occurs when the media file is playing at a conventional playback speed, the first scan rate factor is two times the conventional playback speed, and the second scan rate factor is two times the playback speed of the media file just prior to occurrence of the second user gesture.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first scan rate factor is a fixed multiple of the playback speed of the media file just prior to occurrence of the first user gesture and the second scan rate factor is a fixed multiple of the playback speed of the media file just prior to occurrence of the second user gesture.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first and second user gestures are two fingered swipes, both of the swipes having respective swipe trajectories that are approximately aligned with a predetermined orientation on the touchpad.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , including instructions which cause the device to: detect a first direction of the first user gesture and a second direction of the second user gesture with reference to the predetermined orientation, and when the first and second user gestures are in substantially opposite directions with reference to the predetermined orientation, reverse direction of playback of the media file in response to the second gesture.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , including instructions which cause the device to: detect a first direction of the first user gesture and a second direction of the second user gesture with reference to the predetermined orientation, and when the first and second user gestures are in substantially opposite directions with reference to the predetermined orientation, slow playback speed in its current direction.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein, when the first and second user gestures are in a different direction along the predetermined orientation, the second predetermined rate change comprises changing the playback speed to the speed of playback for the media file prior to implementation of the first rate change.